J.C. Martin 11/23/22 J.C. Martin 11/23/22

Thanksgiving Celebration Returns: Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular

A cherished tradition the Sunday before Thanksgiving has returned for the 29th time after a two year absence due to COVID, tens of thousands of people from all over Fairfield and Westchester counties lined the streets of downtown Stamford to marvel at the 15 giant 30' high balloons, listened to marching bands and enjoyed a variety of performing artists. The parade is acknowledged to be one of the largest of it's kind in country. Stamford and Westhill's bands were joined by Trumbull High and New York's Uniondale and Brentwood bands.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Fan favorite balloons including Bob The Builder, Shrek, Scooby Doo, Peppa Pig, Daniel Tiger and many other popular characters required much attention from their handlers as brisk winds posed a challenge for those trying to maneuver their charges through city streets as they carefully threaded past overhead street signs and traffic lights. As usual, the crowd chanting spin, spin, spin added to the handler's difficult task.

What seemed like a small army of clowns walked the entire parade route, delighting children and stopping to give high fives and posing for selfies.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Dance performances were provided by Locust Performing Arts Center, Center Stage Dance Studio, City Center Dance and The Pulse nova jazz groups. Hoop girls also showed their skills to the cord along the route.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Entertainers including new to the parade this year were the beautifully costumed acrobats of New York City based Cirque-tacular Productions and also the cast of the play Something Rotten opening soon at Stamford's Westhill High School who treated viewer to a sneak-peek of their production.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Parade organizers this year invited Stamford native Colin Cosell, announcer for the NY Mets to fill the role of Master of Ceremonies from his position at the reviewing stand as he introduces the many performers and marchers. Among those in attendance were Stamford mayor Caroline Simmons and Ct Attorney General William Tong.

And as always, the conclusion of the parade saw the arrival of Santa and his reindeer ushering in the holiday season.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

J.C. Martin 11/22/22 J.C. Martin 11/22/22

Westport Library Double-Header Concert Weekend Saturday Show: Chris Frantz Presented Residual Groove & Brian Dolzani

Chris Frantz, famed member of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, brought his Emerging Musicians series back to The Westport Library’s Trefz Forum on Saturday, November 19, with two Fairfield County acts: Residual Groove, a funk-fusion, improv-heavy dance band, and contemporary singer-songwriter Brian Dolzani.

The Chris Frantz Presents Emerging Musicians series at The Westport Library features up-and-coming regional, national, and international music, hand-picked by Frantz, with the goal of bringing new music to new ears and to be an incubator for rising talent. The concert is a music collaboration and production by Verso Studios at The Westport Library and the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.

The previous session of the Emerging Musicians Series was held in December 2021 and featured Lulu Lewis and The Problem with Kids Today.

Said Chris Frantz: “I’m excited to be resuming the Emerging Musicians Series at The Westport Library in the beautiful and innovative Verso Studios. Both Residual Groove and Brian Dolzani are Fairfield County mainstays deserving of a larger platform. A fun night is in store.”

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

Said Bill Harmer, executive director of The Westport Library: “Chris is one of the landmark figures in rock and roll, and we’re thrilled to partner with him once again to bring these incredible artists to our stage. When we planned and executed the Library’s transformation, we imagined creating a space that could feature creativity in all its forms and deliver first-class events to Westport, Fairfield County, and beyond. The Emerging Musicians series is another example of delivering on that vision and another opportunity to demonstrate the full capabilities of our Verso Studios.”

About Residual Groove: Residual Groove is a five-piece Funk-Fusion band out of Norwalk, featuring brothers Previn Edwards (guitar/vocals) and Kiran Edwards (keys/vocals), Francesco Perrouna III (bass/vocals), Henry Thomas (drums), and Garrett Halstead (percussion). Their bio reads: “With a healthy mix of groovy originals and surprising covers, Residual Groove joins their influences and creations together through tasteful segues and spontaneously improvised segments.” Westporters will recognize Residual Groove from its continued Dunville’s residency.

About Brian Dolzani: The storytelling roots of Dolzani’s music are in the singer-songwriter tradition of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Credence Clearwater Revival, among others. He has played at famed stages such as the World Cafe, Daryl’s House, New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall, The 5-Spot in Nashville, and the Blue Plate Special radio program in Knoxville, among many others.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

J.C. Martin 11/22/22 J.C. Martin 11/22/22

Westport Library Double-Header Concert Weekend Sunday Show: Mark Naftalin Presented Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman

Famed keyboardist and noted producer and radio host Mark Naftalin once again brought his talents to The Westport Library, on Sunday, November 20th, the third installment of the Library's ultra-popular Blue Sunday series.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

A capacity crowd was on it's feet more than once as they enjoyed the one and only "Beehive Queen" Christine Ohlman with special guest Willie J. Laws, along with Mark Naftalin & The Blue Sunday Band featuring Crispin Cioe, Paul Gabriel, and JD Seem.

The show was a perfect fit for the Library's beautiful Trefz Forum which is a versatile, cutting-edge space. The Trefz Forum is a premier tri-state area venue for performances, concerts, film screenings, lectures, and more. It features a concert stage, an 18-foot x 10-foot Digital Projection Radiance LED screen, state-of-the-art sound, theatrical lighting, video and digital projection, and seating for 400+ people (600 standing).

Presented by The Westport Library and Verso Studios, this series is produced by Naftalin, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who rose to fame as the keyboardist with the influential Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.